Attachment for film splicing apparatus



Sept. 8, 1942. D. L. B'ABCOCK ATTACI- IMENT FOR FILM S PLICING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24. 1939 DcW/Z/L flabcock IN VENT OR W I fiTTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1%42 TED STAT ATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR FILM SPLICING APPARATUS Application February'24, 1939, Serial No. 258,256

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to splicing apparatus for mending or connecting photographic films, and particularly to the provision of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon the film splice during the time the cement is drying.

The splicing together of two photographic films includes the steps of trimming two ends of the film to be spliced, scraping a given width of emulsion from one of the film ends, applying cement to that end of the film so scraped, overlapping the end of th other film end with that cemented by an amount equal to the width of emulsion removed, and pressing the overlapped end, or film splice, until the cement dries. The step of pressing the splice during the drying of the cement has been found to be very necessary to accomplishing a strong and smooth splice, and many difierent arrangements have been devised for use on splicing apparatus for effectively applying this pressure. prgposed, for this pressing step, however, have been cumbersome, have lacked the desired pressure required, or have necessitated that the desired pressure be applied manually whereby constant supervision of the operator is required.

One object of the present invention is to provide a pressure applying arrangement for use with film splicing apparatus by means of which a strong pressure can be applied easily to a film splice with the least amount of exertion on the part of the operator, and such a pressure applying arrangement which is particularly adapted for use with the splicing apparatus disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,126,298, Otto Wittel, August 9, 1938. Another object is to provide a pressure applying arrangement of the type described Which may be manually and optionally moved to and from a pressing position, and in which position it can be left to apply a constant pressure to the film splice without the attention of the operator. And a further object is to provide a pressing arrangement oi the type described which is simple in construction, and eifective in operation. And yet another object is to provide a pressing arrangement of the type described which is adapted for use on known splicing apparatus of different types, and which is so compact that its presence on such apparatus does not hinder the other functions necessary to such apparatus, or detract from the appearance of such.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its Most of the arrangements method of operation, together with additional 010- jects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following'description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the splicer shown in U. S. Patent 2,126,298, and on which a splice pressing arrangement constructed in accordance with and embodying a preferred form of my invention is incorporated, said pressing arrangement being shown in its inoperative position,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the splicer of Fig. 1, and showing the compactness of the pressing arrangement,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial section taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the movable film table moved to a splicing position relative to the stationary table, and showing the pressing arrangement in its inoperative position,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3, and showing the pressing arrangement moved to its operative, or splice pressing, position,

Fig. 5 is a partial section taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 2, and showing the film platen, on which the pressing arrangement is mounted, in its raised position,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the pressing member forming a part of the complete pressing arrangement.

Like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

For the purpose of disclosing my novel splice To point out the use and application of the present invention, the film splicing apparatus in conjunction with which it is shown will be described-briefly below.

tion, is completely disclosed in the above noted patent.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the splicing apparatus consists of a base 15 supporting a stationary table I I and a movable table l2, said movable table carried by a plurality of parallel links l3, these links being supported on the base by being pivoted at M and being attachedto the table l2 by pivots 15. This table may, therefore,

swing from a cutting and splicing position, shown The details of the splicer itself, which forms no part of the present invenin Figs. 1 and 2, to a splicing position, see Figs. 3 and 4, wherein it causes a film carried thereby to overlap a film on said stationary tabl II by a given amount to form the film splice.

Each of the film tables is provided with a pair of definitely spaced locating pins |6 which are adapted to engage the perforations of a film strip and properly locate the same for cutting, scraping, and splicing operations. The film is held on each of said tables by a spring pressed platen |1 hinged to each table by a special spring hinge. Each film platen H is frictionally held in its film engaging position on its respective table by the engagement of an aperture 25 therein with a spring catch 26 on the table. The end of the platen I! on the stationary table I I adjacent the shear block 4| may be curved as shown at l8 to provide a resilient portion which will serve to hold the end of the film on the stationary table.

on the shear block 4| and at the same time provide a dam to prevent any excess cement from fiowing back over the film strip.

After placing the film F to be spliced on the tables II and I2, the ends may be cut by means of a knife 36 comprising two individual shearing members 31 which are individually and rotatably pivoted to the base II] by having studs 38 fixed thereto rotating in bearings 39 fixed to the base ID. The forward ends of the shearing members 31 are connected by a cross member 40 which serves as a handle for bringing the knife into its cutting position, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the shearing members 31 cut the film across the fixed shear blocks 4| and 4|. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a film scraper 42 is slidably mounted on the shearing members 37, and includes a serrated tool 45 mounted on the side thereof which is adapted to engage and scrape a given width of emulsion from the film on the shear block 4| when said scraper is manually reciprocated along the shearing members 31.

After the film has been cut, scraped, and cemented, and the knife has been raised from between the film tables, the movable table I2 is swung toward the stationary table in the customary manner, and the two film ends are properly overlapped to form a film splice, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the splicing position, the two tables have their tops substantially in the same plane, the overlap of the film ends is on the shear block 4| with the platen IT on the movable table covering said shear block by an amount equal to the amount of overlap of the film ends, see Fig. 3. As indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a toggle spring 50 has one end fastened to a depression 52 on the movable table l2, and the other end fastened to a pin 53 on the base member I0. The point of connection of this spring on the base H! with relation to the two optional positions of the movable table is such that the spring will always tend to throw the table toward one of its two positions, to prevent the same from being held in a dead center position halfway between said two positions. lhis spring 50 also serves to pull downwardly upon the movable table when the same is in its splicing position whereby a certain pressure is applied to the film splice, but since the downward force of this spring is only a vertical component of the direct force of the spring it has been found insufficient to give the necessary pressure to the splice during the drying of the cement. The apparatus disclosed up to this point forms no part of the present invention, except in so far as parts thereof, namely the platen on the movable table, act to form a part of my novel pressing arrangement; and has been briefly disclosed to show the application of the present invention. The full disclosure of this splicing apparatus itself can be found in U. S. Patent 2,126,298, Otto Wittel, August 9, 1938.

Coming now to the present invention, which comprises an arrangement for applying a pressure to the film splice during drying of the cement, a pair of headed studs 55 are fixed in spaced relation on the top of the platen on the movable table |2. A pressing member 56, see Fig. 6, having elongated slots 51 is mounted on the top of said platen I1 with the studs 55 extending through said slots 51. The slots 51 are enough larger than the shanks of the studs to permit said pressing member to move freely vertically of said studs, but are smaller than the heads of said studs so that the pressing member cannot slide ofi the ends thereof. The slots 51 are made elongated to permit the pressing member to be slid along the top of the platen between an inoperative and a pressing position as will be disclosed hereinafter. A plurality of spring fingers 58 are struck out of the pressing member, as shown in Fig. 6, to engage the top of the platen I1, and these spring fingers normally move said pressing member 56 vertically of said studs and against the heads thereof. In this position of the pressing member, it will be appreciated, that the force of the spring fingers 58 is exerted upwardly to force the pressing member against the heads of the studs 55, and since said studs are carried by the platen, the force of the spring does not tend to press the platen toward the movable table |2.

On the top of the stationary table I, adjacent the, and at each end of, the shearing block 4| is fastened a Z-shaped stop 6|! including a horizontal portion 6| which partially overhangs the shear block 4|, and which is spaced therefrom. The portion 6| of each of the stops 60 is spaced from the shear block 4| a little less distance than are the under side of the heads of the studs 55 when the movable table I2 is in splicing positon with the platen lowered. The end of the pressing member 56 toward the shear block 4| is provided with two spaced projections 62 which are adapted to engage and slide under the portions 6| of the stops 60 when the pressing member is slid along the platen to its pressing position. The projections 62 are turned down slightly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that they will be cammed under the stop 66 when moved theretoward. A knob 63 is provided atop the pressing member 56 for sliding the same between its two positions on the platen Now since the portion 6| of each stud 6|] is spaced from the shearing block 4| a less distance than the underside of the heads of the stud 55, when the pressing member 56 is moved to its operative position, see Fig. 4, and under the stop 60, the forward end of the pressing member 56 will be :cammed away from the head of the stud 55 adjacent the shear block 4|. With the pressing member 56 so removed from the head of the stud 55, the force of the spring fingers 58 will be transferred to a downward force onto the platen l1, and since the end of the platen overhangs the film splice on the shear block 4|, the force of the spring fingers 58 will be transmitted to the film splice through said platen. Since the film splice is only under the forward end of the platen I! on the movable table l2 it is only necessary to direct the pressure downwardly on the platen at this point, hence the arrangement of two spring fingers adjacent the forward end of the platen ll, an arrangement of spring fingers whereby only one end of the platen is removed from engagement with the heads of the studs. Should it be desired to get a pressure over the entire area of the platen I! on the movable tabl it will be understood that a spring arrangement operating on a paralle'logram of forces could be used whereby pressure on one end of the pressing member would move the rear end thereof from its stud as well as the forward end thereof, as shown. In the present instance, the rear or single spring finger 58 provides practically no downward force on the platen I! when the pressing member is icammed under the stop 60 because the rear end of the pressing member is not removed from the head of the stud 55 engaged thereby. The single spring finger merely serves to press the rear end of the pressing member away from the platen to prevent a binding action which might occur when the pressing member is moved to its inoperative position, if only spring fingers acting on one end thereof were provided. The pressing member 56 is frictionally restrained against movement along the platen 1'! due to the pressure of the spring fingers 58, but to provide an additional frictional locking of the pressing member in its inoperative position, thesingle spring finger may be provided with a protuberance 64 which is adapted to snap into an aperture 65 in the platen when the pressing member is moved to its inoperative position.

Instead of having th springpressure afforded by spring fingers formed integral with the pressing member, as shown, the pressing member iCOllld be made in the form of a slotted plate with a spring or springs located between the same and the top of the platen, which spring or springs would naturally bein a compressed or restrained condition. one form of such arrangement could take the form of a coil spring "surrounding each of the studs 55, which spring would normally tend to move the pressing member upward against the heads of the studs 55.

In effect, the pressing arrangement for the film splice includes not only the pressing memher-56, the spring fingers 58 and the stop 60, but also the platen I! on the movable table I2. And although I have shown the arrangement in conjunction with a splicing apparatus having a table movable relative to a stationary table for automatically overlapping the film ends, and an apparatus'which requires the use of a platen for holding the films on the table, it is to be understood that the same is not limited to use with such a splicing apparatus. For instance, in the splicing apparatus as shown in U. S. Patent 1,804,730, Otto Wittel, May 12, 1931, the films are held on their respective tables by locating pins which are spring pressed apart a distance greater than the spacing of the film perforations so that when they engage the film perforations they frictionally retain the film in place without requiring the use of a film platen. The present invention including the film platen as a part thereof could be mounted on the movable table of the splicing apparatus of U. S. Patent 1,804,730 adjacent the Shearing block thereof and operate in the manner disclosed. In such an application the platen l'l would'not serve as a film "holding member, but as a part of the splice pressing arrangement of which it is justly apart.

Further, the splice pressing arrangement isnot restricted to use with-splicing apparatus'inwhich one table is movable relative to another for automatically overlapping the film ends. It will be readily appreciated that it could be mounted on any film splicing table on which it could be mounted so that it could be brought into engagement with the film splice as disclosed.

Referring'to the drawing, it will be appreciated that my novel film splice pressing arrange-' ment is so compact that it is hardly noticed as an addition to the splicing apparatus. Although it is compact and easily operated, this splice pressing arrangement is efficient in operation and provides a strong pressing action to the splice which is maintained until released by the operator. With this pressing arrangement pressure is localized to the film splice itself, so that practically none of the spring pressure is wasted on portions of the films on the tables not requiring a pressing action applied thereto. Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications of the same are possible. Therefore, my invention is not to be limited except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination of a film holding table, means for locating two films on said table with their ends in an overlapping position to form a film splice, a platen hingedly mounted on said table and adapted to overlie said film splice, of means for exerting a pressure downwardlyupon said film splice, said means comprising a stop fixed to and spaced from said table adjacent said film splice, a pressing member, means for mounting said pressing member on said platen whereby it can move away from said table a distance greater than the space between said stopand said table, and along said table to and from said stop, a spring situated between said platen and said pressing member, and normally forcing said pressing member away from said table, and means for moving said pressing memberuunder said stop, whereby the force of said spring is directed downwardly upon said platen to induce a pressure upon said film splice.

2. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon, each for receiving a film, one

table being fixedly mounted on said base, and

the other table being movably mounted on said base to move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carriedby each table are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly .upon said film splice, said means including a platen movable to and from covering relation with said splice,'a stop on said stationary table adjacent said splice, and a pressure applying member mounted on said platen to move to and from a pressing position wherein it engages said stop to be moved downwardly toward said table whereby a pressure is exerted upon the film splice through said platen.

3. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon, each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on said base, and the other table being movably mounted onsaid base to move to and froma splicingpositionrelative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried by each table are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means including a one-piece platen movable to and from covering relation with said splice, a pressure applying member slidably mounted on the top of said platen to move to and from an operative position wherein it is adapted to transmit pressure downwardly upon said platen.

4. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon, each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on said base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base to move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried by each table are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means comprising a stop on said stationary table adjacent said film splice, a platen movable to and from a covering relation with said splice, and a pressing member slidably mounted on the top of said platen and normally forced away from the top of said platen, said pressure member adapted to be manually moved to and from an operative position wherein it engages said stop and is forced downwardly thereby, whereby the force normally acting to move said pressing member away from said platen is exerted downwardly upon said film splice.

5. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon, each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on the base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base, whereby the same can move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried thereby are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, a platen hingedly mounted on the movable table for holding a film thereon, said platen overlapping the film splice in film splicing position, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means comprising a pressure member carried on top of said platen, resilient means located between said pressure member and said platen and normally pressing said member away from said platen and said pressure member movably mounted on said platen to move to and from an operative position wherein its movement relative to said platen under the action of said resilient means is limited whereby the pressure of said resilient means is directed downwardly upon said platen adjacent that portion of the platen overlapping said stationary table to press upon said splice.

6. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon, each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on the base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base, whereby the same can move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried thereby are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, a platen hingedly mounted on the movable table for holding a film thereon, said platen overlapping the film splice in film splicing position, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means comprising a stop on said stationary table adjacent said film splice, a pressure member movably mounted on said platen and normally pressed away therefrom, said pressure member adapted to be moved to and from an operative position on said platen, in which position it is moved into engagement with said stop forcing it downwardly, whereby the pressure normally acting to move the same away from the platen is transmitted downwardly upon said platen to induce a pressure upon said film splice.

7. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on the base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base whereby the same can move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried thereby are in overlapping relation to form a film splicer, a platen hingedly mounted on the movable table for holding a film thereon, said platen overlapping the film splice in film splicing position, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means comprising a stop on said stationary table adjacent said film splice, and including a portion spaced from the top of said table, a pressing member mounted on said platen for limited movement to and from the same in a plane substantially parallel thereto, and for movement therealong to and from a pressing position, resilient means between said platen and pressing member normally acting to move the same away from said platen and to a position wherein the plane of the pressing member is above the plane of that portion of said stop spaced from the top of said stationary table, and means for moving said pressing member along said platen and into engagement with said stop forcing it downwardly, whereby the force of said resilient means is transferred from said pressing member to said platen to press downwardly upon said film splice.

8. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on the base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base, whereby the same can move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried thereby are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, a platen hingedly mounted on the movable table for holding a film thereon, said platen overlapping the film splice in the film splicing position of said movable table, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means comprising a stop spaced above said stationary table adjacent said film splice, a pressing member, means for mounting said pressing member on the top of said platen whereby the same can move toward and away from said platen and to a position wherein it is spaced above said stationary table a greater distance than said stop, and whereby said pressing member can be moved along said platen to and from said stop, a spring situated between said platen and said pressing member and normally moving said pressing member away from said platen, and means for moving said pressing member along said platen and under said stop, whereby the force of said springs is transferred from said pressing member to said platen for inducing a pressure downwardly onto said film splice.

9. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon each for receiving a film, one

table being fixedly mounted on the base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base whereby the same can move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried thereby are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, a platen hingedly mounted on the movable table for holding a film thereon, said platen overlapping the film splice in the film splicing position of said movable table, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means including a resilient means mounted on the top of said platen whereby it normally acts in a direction upwardly from said platen, and means for optionally changing the direction of the force of said resilient means to act downwardly upon said platen to induce a pressure upon said film splice.

10. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on the base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base whereby the same can move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried thereby are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, a platen hingedly mounted on the movable table for holding a film thereon, said platen overlapping the stationary table and film splice in film splicing position, of means for exerting a presure downwardly upon said film splice, said means comprising a stop spaced above said stationary table adjacent said film splice, a headed stud extending vertically from said platen, the head of said stud spaced above said stationary table a greater distance than said stop, a pressing member provided with an elongated slot engaging said stud whereby said pressure member can move toward, away, and along said platen, a spring located between said platen and said pressing member and normally forcing the latter away from said platen and against the head of said stud, and means for moving said pressing member along said platen and under said stop, whereby the pressure of said spring is directed downwardly upon said platen to induce a pressure upon said film splice.

11. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on the base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base whereby the same can move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried thereby are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, a platen hingedly mounted on the movable table for holding a film thereon, said platen overlapping the stationary table and film splice in film splicing position of the movable table, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means comprising a stop spaced above said stationary table adjacent said film splice, a plurality of headed studs extending vertically from said platen, the head of each stud spaced above said stationary table a greater distance than said stop, a pressing member provided with a plurality of elongated slots engaging said studs whereby said pressing member can move toward, away, and along said platen, a plurality of spring fingers integral with said pressing member and engaging the top of said platen to normally force said pressing member away from said platen and against the heads of said studs, and a knob on said pressing member for manually moving the same along said platen and under said stop, whereby the force of said spring fingers is directed downwardly upon said platen to induce a pressure upon said film splice.

12. In a film splicing apparatus, the combination with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on the base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base whereby the same can move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table, in which position the ends of the films carried thereby are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, a platen hingedly mounted on the movable table for holding a film thereon, said platen overlapping the stationary table and film splice in film splicing position of the movable table, of means for exerting a pressure downwardly upon said film splice, said means comprising a stop spaced above said stationary table adjacent said film splice, a plurality of headed studs extending vertically from said platen, the head of each stud spaced above said stationary table a greater distance than said stop, a pressing member provided with a plurality of elongated slots engaging said studs whereby said pressing member can move toward, away, and along said platen, a plurality of spring fingers integral with said pressing member and engaging the top of said platen to normally force said pressing member away from said platen and against the heads of said studs, a protuberance on one of said spring fingers adapted to snap into an aperture in said platen to frictionally hold said pressure member in its inoperative position, and a knob on said pressing member for manually moving the same along said platen and under said stop, whereby the force of said spring fingers is directed downwardly upon said platen to induce a pressure upon said film splice.

13. In a film splicing apparatus, the combina'- tion with a base, a pair of film holding tables mounted thereon, each for receiving a film, one table being fixedly mounted on said base, and the other table being movably mounted on said base to move to and from a splicing position relative to said stationary table in which position the ends of the films carried by each table are in overlapping relation to form a film splice, of means carried by, and on top of, said tables for exerting a pressure downwardly upon the film splice when said tables are in splicing position, said means including a one-piece platen movable to and from covering relation with said splice, a member movably mounted on the top of said platen and normally urged away therefrom, a stop on a fixed part of said apparatus into engagement with which said member is adapted to be moved and forced downwardly, whereby the pressure normally acting to move the same away from is transmitted downwardly upon said platen to in--.,

duce a pressure upon said film splice.

DAVID L. BABCOCK. 

